> I realize that Gemma’s not trying to defeat her enemies. She doesn’t even view them as enemies. They’re other kids like her and she never stops trying to win their approval.
That seems like that could be part of the issue? My friends and I in high school were not trying to win the approval of anyone. We hung out together, gamed together, coded together, played D&D together. We could have cared less what others thought and weren't trying to "win their approval".
If this is true, seems like you and your friends were pretty confident and secure in who you were as high schoolers. That's awesome. I had a similar group of nerdery/outcast friends, and we enjoyed hanging out together but I personally still desired the approval of the "cool kids".
> I realize that Gemma’s not trying to defeat her enemies. She doesn’t even view them as enemies. They’re other kids like her and she never stops trying to win their approval.
That seems like that could be part of the issue? My friends and I in high school were not trying to win the approval of anyone. We hung out together, gamed together, coded together, played D&D together. We could have cared less what others thought and weren't trying to "win their approval".